Toggle switch



Feb- 19, 1957 F. E. HEUSSER TOGGLE SWITCH Filed April 29, 1955 INVENTOR li i lll BY I ATTORNEY@ United States Patent firsice TOGGLE SWITCH Franklin E. Heusser, Shelton, Conn., assignor to Casco Products Corporation, Bridgeport, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application April 29, 1953, Serial No. 352,006

8 Claims. (Cl. 200-68) This invention relates to toggle switches, and more particularly to a single-pole, double-throw battery type switch.

In some battery-operated devices it is desired to connect a current supply with either of two circuits temporarily by manipulation of a lever from a normal opencircuit position to either of two operating positions and to have `the lever and the mechanism which it operates return to open-circuit position when the lever is disengaged.

An object of this invention is to provide a switch of this character which is sturdy, reliable in its action, and yet may be made economically.

In switches of this type, spring means are usually employed for returning the switch lever from a closed-circuit position to open-circuit position. According to the present invention, this is accomplished by employing spring means which actuates the switch blade as well as returns both the switch blade and the operator to open-circuit position when the lever is released.

As shown in the accompanying drawings, this is accomplished by providing a base plate of insulating material, a central contact, and two side contacts-the central contact being connected to the feed line and the side contacts being connected to the motor or other parts to be controlled. A switch blade in the form of a teeter bar is fulcrumed on the central contact and carries current. The teeter bar is provided with a wide V-shaped depression, at the bottom of which is an aperture receiving the central contact and by which the teeter bar is positioned longitudinally.

According to the present invention, an actuator has its end located in the depression in the teeter bar and is resiliently urged to engage both sides of the depression and hold the teeter bar in neutral or balanced open-circuit position. Movement of the actuator to one side or the other causes it to engage one or the other of the sides of the depression and move the teeter bar into engagement with one of the side contacts.

The base of the switch is provided with a housing having a narrow mounting neck through which an operating handle extends. The operating handle has a flange engaging the casing around the shoulder 4of the neck and when the handle is oscillated the ilange engages the `shoulder on one side or vthe other, depending on the direction of movement of the handle. The handle vand actuator are axially aligned by a pin on the handle extending into an axial bore in the actuator and is thus coupled to the actuator for oscillatory movement. A coil spring is located between the end of the actuator and the ange on the handle, and by its expansion tends to hold the actuator in the V-depression of the teeter bar and the handle with both sides of the flange engaging the shoulder of the neck of the casing, and tends to return the parts to this position when the handle is released after being oscillated in one direction or the other.

The plane of movement of the actuator, teeter bar and ythe handle is controlled by a single pair of spaced guide 2,782,279 Patented Feb. 19, 1957 plates secured to the base and between which the teeter bar and the end of the actuator are located and rides in their oscillatory movements.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings- Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view taken through the switch of the present invention, showing its details and the manner in which it is mounted on a curved instrument panel or other support.

Fig. 2 is also a vertical sectional view, but taken at right angles to that shown in Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. l, but omitting the lower end of the actuator.

Fig. 4 is a View similar to Fig. 3, but showing the switch in operated position with the teeter bar engaging one of the circuit-controlling contacts of the switch.

As shown in the accompanying drawings, the switch of the present invention comprises an oblong base 10 of insulating material having a central contact stud 11 provided with a wire-receiving terminal 12. At the ends of the base 10 there are contacts 13 and 14 connected to wire-receiving terminals 15 and 16 for connection to wires leading `to the circuits to be controlled, the common wire of which is connected to the terminal 12.

A hollow sheet metal oblong casing 17 has its lower edge resting on the insulating base 10 with ears 18 depending therefrorn located in notches 10a and bent under the insulating block to secure the casing and block together. The upper end of the casing is closed, except for a circular hole through which extends a tubular neck 19 having a ange 20 engaging the shoulder of the casing hole. The neck and casing are secured .together by welding or soldering.

The switch may be mounted on an instrument panel 21 or `other sheet metal part by extending the neck 18 through an aperture in the panel and tightening down a nut 22 which is mounted on the upper threaded end of the neck.

When, as shown, the switch is to be mounted on a curved support, as, for example, the instrument panel 21, the position of the axis of the switch relative to the instrument panel may be controlled by internal and external bushings or pads 23 and 24 respectively, shaped to tit the surface to be engaged. In the form, the external pad 24 has a lug 25 which extends through an aperture 26 in the instrument panel and into a slot 27 in the internal pad 23, and thus the pads are held in desired position against rotary movement about the axis of the switch or the hole through which the switch extends.

The upper end of the casing has a lug 28 extending into a slot 29 in the lower portion of the internal pad 23 to prevent the casing from rotating relative to the internal pad 23 which is coupled to the instrument panel and to the upper pad 24 by the lug 25 on the latter. Thus, when the switch is assembled to the instrument panel 2l, it is secured not only against axial movement but also against rotatable movement about the axis of the neck 19.

The gap between the Astud 11 and either the contacts 13 or 14 is closed by a switch blade in the form of a sheet metal teeter bar 30 which has a central V-shaped bend forming depressed portion 31 having a ilat bottom 31a provided with an aperture 32 shaped to receive the upper end of the stud 11 While the at bottom 31a rests upon a flange 33 on the stud. The ends 34 and 35 of the teeter bar extend over the contacts 13 and 14 respectively, so that when the teeter bar is rocked in one `direction or the other it will electrically connect the stud 11 with either the contact 13 or the contact 14, depending on its direction of movement.

To hold the teeter bar in neutral position, that is to say in a position parallel to the base 10 with the ends 34 megeve and 35 of the bar separated from the contacts Band .14, and to move the teeter bar in one direction or the other, there is provided an actuator 36 having `a rounded head 37 ltitting in `the V.-shaped depressed portion 310i the teeter bar. The actuator 36, or .at least ythe head 37 thereof, is made of insulating material so Vthat current will not be carried by it from the teeter bar to lother parts of the switch.

For operating the actuator 36, there is provided a handle 38 which has a flange 39 adapted to engage the ilange 21') of the neck 19 and an `axial cylindrical operating pin 4t) which extends into an axial .cylindrical bore .41 in the actuator.

Movement of the handle within the neck Y19 is controlled by a spherical boss .42 on the handlewhich contacts the internal walls of the neck. YWhen the handle is rocked from the full line POsition shown in Fig. 1 to either of the vdot and dash Positions shownrtherein, it fnlcrnms on the edge of the flange 39 Opposite the direction of movement of the handle, and the curvature of the boss 42 is such that the lateral bodily movement of the handle is prevented.

The 'handle 38 and actuator 36 are held in their normal neutral positions, and are returned thereto when re leased, by a coil spring 43 surrounding the actuator 36 and engaging at one end the tiange 39 and at the other end a shoulder 44 on the actuator. The upward thrust imparted to the handle by the spring 43 tends to holdrthe flange 39 llat against the flange 20 of the neck, while thedownward thrust on the actuator holds the head 37 centrally located in the V-shaped depressed portion -31 as shown in Fig. l, with the bottom 31a flat against the flange 33 of the stud 11. When the handle is rocked to the right, the left side of the iiange 39 fulcrums on the liange 20 of the neck and the pin 40 moves the actuator 36 to the left, causing the end of the head 37 to earn the left end of the teeter bar down into engagement with the contact 13, the pressure on the teeter bar being maintained by the expanding force of the spring 43 even though the upper part of t-he handle might engage the upper end of the neck 19. Likewise, when the handle is moved to the left as viewed in Fig. 1, the actuator would move to the right causing the end 35 of the teeter bar to engage the contact 14.

When manual pressure is removed from the handle 38,

single spring is necessary to return the parts to opencircuit position and maintain pressure on the switch blade teeter bar when in either operative position.

To control thc plane of the oscillatory movements of the actuator 36 and the teeter bar 30, a guide member 45 is secured to the base l0. As shown, this may advantageously be done by using the stud 11 as a rivet, passing through a hole in the guide member 45, and conning 'the latter between the flange 33 on the stud and the base 1G. The guide member is made of sheet metal and has upwardly bent cheeks 46 between which the teeter bar 30 and the head 37 of the actuator are conned and guided in their oscillatory movements. By this arrangement, it is not necessary to mount the handle on any pivot, or otherwise prevent or control its movement about its axis or in any predetermined plane of movement, since the .plane of oscillation of the handle is controlled by the plane of oscillation of the actuator which in turn is controlled by the cheeks 46 on the guide member 45. The only oscillatory movement permitted the handle is that permitted the actuator by the guide member 45. The rotary movements which might be imparted to the handle 38 inadvertently in its operation or in toying with it can have noeliect on the operativeness of the switch, since all parts of the handle are concentric and it would simply he ,a mattcrof rotating the pin 4.0 ,in the bore 410i the actuator.

The sides of the head 37 of the actuator have sliding engagement with the cheeks 46 of the guide member. The latter is held in fixed position against itself turning relative to the insulating base 10 by downwardly bent lugs 47 thereon engaging apertures 43 predeterminately positioned in the base 10.

In kaddition to being advantageous in that it comprises a very few rugged and easily made parts, the construction of the switch of the present invention has the further advantage that the switch may be easily assembled without the use of special jigs or fixtures, and may likewise be mounted on fa supporting structure, such as the instrument panel 21, without ditiiculty or special tools.

l'n assembling the switch, after the casing 17 is secured to the neck 19 and before the base 10 is applied, the handle 38 lis insertedfin the neck 19, the spring-carrying'actuator 3 6 is slid over the pin 40 of the handle, and in that condition, the teeter bar 30 having been placed on the stud 11, the base and casing are brought together until the bottom of the casing strikes the base and the ears 18project beyond the base, whereupon the ears are struck over to tirmly unite the casing to the base.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of the claims and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

I claim:

1. In a toggle switch comprising a casing; a tubular neck portion attached to said casing projecting there from and having transverse abutment means within said Casing integral with said neck; an elongate handle mounted in said neckportion having at its inner end a transverse flange engageable with said abutment means; and having interposed between its ends a section of a ball which bears against the walls of said neck whereby said handle has universal movement within said neck when moved; and yieldable means urging said flange into engagement with said abutment means whereby when said handle is movd in either direction said abutment constitutes a fulcrum surface for the handle.

2. A double-throw, single-pole battery switch having a teeter bar switch blade; a base of insulating material; a central contact on the base terminating in a stud, the teeter bar having a central angular depression having oppositely disposed sloping sides, said depression being provided with an aperture slidably titting over said stud and by which the teeter bar is tiltably mounted and also positioned longitudinally with respect to the base; a pair of contacts, one located on the base under each end of the teeter bar for engagement thereby; a movably mounted actuator for the teeter bar having an end located in said depression and engaging both of the sides thereof to hold the teeter bar in neutral position out of engagement with either of said pair of contacts and movable to engage one side or the other of the depression to move the teeter bar into engagement with one or the other of said pair of contacts upon the application of force to the actuator; resilient means for returning the actuator to neutral position upon removal of said actuating force; and in which there is a flat on the bottom of the depression in the teeter and a Harige having a top iiat surface on the stud engaging the same.

3. A double-throw, single-pole battery switch having a teeter bar switch blade; a base of insulating material;

a central contact on the base terminating in a stud, the teeter bar having a central angular depression having oppositely disposed sloping sides, said depression being provided with an aperture slidably litting over said stud and by which the teeter bar is tiltably mounted and also positioned longitudinally with respect to the base; a pair of contacts, one located on the base under each end of the teeter bar for engagement thereby; a movably mounted actuator for the teeter bar having an end located in said depression and vengaging both of the sides thereof to hold the teeter bar in neutral position out of engagement with either of said pair of contacts and movable to engage one side or the other of the depression to move the teeter bar into engagement with one or the other of said pair of contacts upon the application of force to the actuator; resilient means for returning the actuator to neutral position upon removal of said actuating force; and in which there is means including a single pair of stationary guide plates secured to and projecting upwardly from the base, one plate at each side of the teeter bar and actuator, for limiting the oscillation of the latter to the plane normal to the base in which the contacts are located.

4. A ldouble-throw, single-pole battery switch having a teeter bar switch blade; a base of insulating material; a central contact on the base terminating in a stud, the teeter bar having a central angular depression having oppositely disposed sloping sides, said depression being provided with an aperture slidably fitting over said stud and by which the teeter bar is tiltably mounted and also positioned longitudinally with respect to the base; a pair of contacts, one located on the base under each end of the teeter bar for engagement thereby; a movably mounted actuator for the teeter bar having an end located in said depression and engaging both of the sides thereof to hold the teeter bar in neutral position out of engagement with either of said pair of contacts and movably to engage one side or the other of the depression to move the teeter bar into engagement with one or the other of said pair of contacts upon the application of force to the actuator; resilient means for returning the actuator to neutral position upon removal of said actuating force; and in which there is a casing attached to the base, and an operating handle mounted in the casing for oscillatory movement, and an operating connection between the handle and said actuator, said operating connection being telescopic and having slidingly-engaging bearing surfaces and said resilient means being an expansion type coil spring inserted between said handle and said actuator, said spring being out of Contact with said bearing surfaces and yieldingly holding the handle and the actuator in neutral position.

5. A switch as defined in claim 4, in which there is a tubular neck attached to the casing, in which the operating handle has a section of a ball which bears in said tubular neck and provides a universal mounting, and in which the handle has radially extending opposite portions disposed below the ball section and engaging cooperating surfaces on the casing to provide a fulcrum for the handle in its oscillating movements.

6. A switch as defined in claim 5, in which the coil spring engages the Said radically-extending portions of the handle and in which tho handle is free of attachment to the base or casing and is held in position in the said neck by the pressure of said coil spring against the said radially extending portions.

7. A switch as defined in claim 6, in which the handle has a projecting circular flange forming said radially extending portions and the said telescopic operating connection is cylindrical so that the handle may assume any rotated position about its own axis in the casing without aecting the operation thereof.

8. A double-throw, single-pole battery switch having a teeter bar switch blade; a base of insulating material; a central Contact on the base terminating in a stud, the teeter bar having a central angular depression having oppositely disposed sloping sides, said depression being provided with an aperture slidably fitting over said stud and by which the teeter bar is tiltably mounted and also positioned longitudinally with respect to the base; a pair of contacts, one located on the base under each end of the teeter bar for engagement thereby; a movably mounted actuator for the teeter bar having an end located in said depression and engaging both of the sides thereof to hold the teeter bar in neutral position out of engagement with either of said pair of contacts and movable to engage one side or the other of the depression to move the teeter bar into engagement with one or the other of said pair of contacts upon the application of force to the actuator; means for limiting movement of the actuator to a plane normal to the base in which the contacts are located, and resilient means for returning the actuator to neutral position upon removal of said actuating force.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,508,156 Bliss Sept. 9, 1924 1,812,914 Williams et al. July 7, 1931 1,912,624 Douglas June 6, 1933 2,027,538 Krieger Jan. 14, 1936 2,623,142 Karl Dec. 23, 1952 2,686,234 Obszarny Aug. 10, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 443,430 Great Britain Feb. 27, 1936 626,139 Great Britain n July 11, 1949 

